Umbrella.



J. W. LEWIS.

UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1911 LO8L126 Patented De0.9,1913.

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' ATTORNEYS WITNESSES 7%.

JOHN W. LEWIS, 013 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 26, 1911.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

Serial No. 635,267.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN 1V. Lnwls, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Stan Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and Stateof California, have made certain new and useful Improvements inUmbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in umbrellas, and has for its object theprovision of a simple and eilicient means for detachably connecting theribs and braces to the stick and runner respectively, wherein eachconnection is independent of the other connections.

1n the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of a portion of theframe, Fig. 2 is a front view of the notch, Fig. 3 is a front view ofthe cap, Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the notch and cap, Fig. 5 is aplan View of a modified form of rib. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portionof the cover, and Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a modified form of capon the ordinary runner.

111 the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the stick 1 is ofordinary construction, and the notch is in the form of a ferrule orsleeve 2, having a depending annular flange 3 connected to the ferruleor sleeve by a flaring or tapering portion 1. The flange 3 is providedat spaced intervals with notches or slots 5, for receiving the ribs 6,and each of the ribs 6 is provided at its inner end with a transverseintegral cross head 7 as shown in Fig. 5 or with a transverse pin 8 asshown in Fig. 1.

The notch, as shown in Fig. 2 is provided with an annular groove orchannel 9, in its outer face, intermediate the end of the notches 5, forreceiving the pin 8 or cross head 7, and the cap which comprises aferrule or sleeve 10 and a depending annular flange 11 of greaterdiameter than the for rule, connected to the ferrule by a liaring or asltapering portion 12-, fits over the notch, and

over the ends of the ribs. The said flange 11 of the cap is providedwith spaced substantially parallel notches or slots 13, which registerwith the slots 5, when the cap is in to place on the notch, and permitthe free vertical swinging movement of the ribs, in raising and loweringthe umbrella or parasol.

Both cap and notch are fixed in place on the stick by means of a pin 111, passed through cap, notch and stick, and headed or upset at eachend. The pin 8 or cross head 7 is received in the groove 9, of the notchand hinges the rib to the stick.

The method of connecting the inner ends of the braces or struts to therunner resembles very closely the method of connecting the inner end ofthe rib to the stick. Each brace 21 is provided at its inner end with anintcg'al cross head like that shown for the rib in or with a transversepin 2 1-, as shown in Fig. l. The runner is in the form of a sleeve 15,encircling the stick and slidable thereon, and at its upper end thesleeve is provided with a flaring flange 17, having spaced substantiallyparallel notches or slots 20 for receiving the braces, and with anannular groove 22 similar to the groove 9 for receiving the pin or crosshead. The inner end of the brace is precisely like the inner end of therib, and the sleeve corresponds closely in structure to the structure ofthe notch. [1 cap 28 is fitted over the flange 17 and is provided withnotches or slots 2'7 registering with the slots 20 of the flange 17,when the cap is in place. The notch is provided with an external threadat its small end with which engages a threaded nut 30 on the runner, andis also provided with an external annular rib 31. he flange 17 may beintegral with the runner or detachable, and the groove 22 of the saidflange receives the cross head or pin of the strut in the same mannerthat the groove 9 receives the corresponding portions of the ribs.

Each strut 21 is pivoted to a rib interme diate the ends of the rib, asindicated at 32, and the cover 33 is fitted on the ribs in the usualmanner. The outer edge of the cover may be connected to the outer endsof the ribs and to the stick by means of the detachable tips and thering forming the subject matter of my copending application Serial No.57 5,23 1 filed nugust 3, 1910.

intermediate its ends, each rib is connected to the cover by the meansshown in Fig. 6. The said means comprises tapes or straps 3-1; securedto the cover at suitable points adjacent to the ribs and transvuselythereof. The central portion of the strap is free from the cover, andthe rib is provided with oppositely arranged hooks for engaging thestrap. Each hook is connected at one end to the rib, and the other endis pointed at 86, and is bent tomird the rib and then away therefrom, topermit accidental dis engagement of the hooks from the strap.

The runner is provided with the usual slot 37 for engagement by theusual spring latch (not shown) to hold the cover extended or folded.umbrella or parasol is the wire holding the rib and braces to the notchor runner. The said wire soon becomes rusty and breaks releasing everyrib or brace as the case may be.

In the present construction should a pin or cross head become broken,but one rib or brace is released, the remainder holding firmly in place,and the rib or brace may be easily replaced, by removing the cap. Theframe is assembled by engaging the ribs with the notch, placing the capover the notch, and securing both in place by the pin. The braces arethen connected to the ferrule of the runner, and the runner cap isscrewed down on the ferrule. The cover may then be placed. Thetransverse pin being spaced from the inner end of the rib or brace,presents a somewhat stronger construction than the cross head, and forthis reason is preferable for heavy work, while the cross head is moreadapted for light work, such as parasols.

The improved construction is not liable to get out of order on accountof wet, since the cap incloses the connection and prevents the entranceof any great amount of moisture.

In Fig. 7 the upper end of the runner shows a modified form of cap. Thesaid cap 40 is provided with resilient arms 41 each having a catch 42 atits free end for engaging above the flange 17 of the runner. The aboveconstruction is especially adapted for light service. The upper portionof the runner just mentioned is in fact a notch closely resembling thatshown in Fig. 3 and The weak point in the ordinary the notch is held onthe runner by means of a head 43 on the runnernear its upper end, and alateral flange 22 at the upper end, the notch being held between thebead and flange.

I claim:

1. In an umbrella frame, a connector comprising a pair of substantiallyfrusto-conical sleeves fitting one within the other, the outer sleevehaving at its large end resilient catches engaging the adjacent end ofthe inner sleeve for preventing disengagement of the said sleeves, saidsleeves having laterally spaced notches. extending from the large endtoward the small end, and the inner sleeve having an external annulargroove, intersecting the notches intermediate their ends, the saidsleeves being adapted to engage a stick and ribs and stretchers engagingthe notches at one end and having lateral lugs for engaging the grooveof the inner sleeve.

2. In an umbrella frame, a connector comprising a pair of substantiallyfrustoconical sleeves fitting one within the other, said sleeves havinglaterally spaced notches extending fromthe large endtow'ard the smallend, and the inner sleeve having an external annular groove intersectingthe notches intermediate their ends, the said sleeves being adapted toengage a stick, and ribs and stretchers engaging the notches at one endand having laterallugs for engaging the groove of the inner sleeve, andmeans for detachably connecting the sleeves.

S. B. HARDER, J. C; CLEVELAN Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents eaclnby addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G.

